Zeke barely registered the weight of the sleeping pills Rain had given him before his body succumbed to exhaustion. It didn't take long before he was out, sinking into a deep sleep that felt almost too still, too final. The kind of rest he hadn't had in days. His mind, usually racing with thoughts of his cursed power, his responsibilities, and the distance he kept from others, finally quieted.
The hours passed in a blur of dreams and shadows.
When he finally stirred, it was as though time had folded upon itself. His eyes blinked open, and the room around him appeared unchanged, still in the midst of the quiet that came with the cessation of time itself. The clock on the wall read the same time it had before.
Zeke's body ached, as though he'd slept for days. In truth, it had been 18 hours—an eternity of unconsciousness. Yet, in the world that he existed in when time stopped, not even a fraction of a second had passed.
He rubbed his eyes, standing up slowly, stretching his sore muscles. Time had paused the world, as it always did when he closed his eyes, leaving him alone in a world frozen in place. It had become his curse—a gift that no one else could understand.
In the silence, Zeke felt a pang of regret for how he had treated Eliza the day before. He knew he had been short with her, dismissive even, and he couldn't keep running from the tension between them. He needed to apologize.
Zeke walked toward the door of his dorm room, each step heavy with the weight of his own thoughts. The hallway was still, not a sound to be heard, and yet his footsteps felt louder than they should have been in the dead air. When he reached Eliza's door, he hesitated for a moment, standing outside. He didn't want to face her, but he knew he had to.
He knocked quietly.
"Zeke?" Eliza's voice came from the other side of the door, warm as always, despite the tension that hung between them.
Zeke opened the door to find her sitting on her bed, her eyes soft with concern. "I'm sorry," he said before she could speak, his voice low and rough. "I shouldn't have snapped at you yesterday. I was... frustrated. But that's no excuse."
Eliza smiled softly, the warmth in her eyes never fading. "It's okay. I understand. You're going through a lot."
Zeke lowered his gaze, unable to meet her eyes. "I don't want you to worry. I just... I don't know how to handle all of this." He gestured vaguely to the space around him, the unspoken weight of his curse, his powers, the ever-present burden that gnawed at him. "But I'm sorry. I shouldn't take it out on you."
Eliza stood up, walking over to him. Her hand rested on his arm gently. "Zeke, you don't have to face everything alone. I know you feel like you have to carry it all, but you don't."
Zeke's breath caught in his throat. He wanted to believe her, wanted to let her help, but the wall he had built around himself felt too thick, too high to climb over. Instead, he nodded quietly, unsure of what to say next.
The bell rang, signaling that class was about to start, and they both made their way to the main training room. As they entered, Zeke caught the looks of some of the other students in the room. There were a few murmurs, whispers even, about the upcoming exam.
"Did you hear?" one of the students, Kyle, said to his friend. "The island exam is going to be brutal this year. There are reports of new monsters on the island. Last year, it was mostly basic threats, but this time... they're saying some of them might actually be capable of taking down an entire squad if you're not careful."
A girl named Hana chimed in from the other side of the room. "Yeah, I heard the same. And the monsters are supposed to get stronger every time. It's like the island itself is evolving. We'll be facing things we haven't even studied."
Eliza turned toward Zeke, concern etched on her face. "Do you think we're ready for this?"
Before Zeke could answer, the classroom door swung open, and Mr. Alden entered. His sharp eyes swept the room, and he gave them all a small, knowing smile.
"Good to see you're all eager to talk about the exam," he said, his voice stern but with an edge of amusement. "But let's get one thing straight: this isn't just about fighting. This is a test of survival. The monsters on the island aren't the only things you'll need to worry about. The terrain, the elements, your ability to stay calm—everything matters."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "But don't worry. You won't die. Each of you will be equipped with a device that will teleport you to the healing ward if you sustain critical injuries. And I'm not talking about a flesh wound here—this technology can heal almost any injury as long as you're still alive. If you're dying, the device will take you back to safety."
Zeke glanced over at Eliza, who looked a bit reassured but still nervous. He caught her gaze and gave her a small, reassuring smile. It wasn't much, but it was something.
Mr. Alden went on to explain the logistics of the test. They would be dropped onto an island and would have to survive against monsters, all while proving their abilities. It wasn't a competition; it was a trial. And in the end, it was about who could handle the pressure and stay alive.
"Remember," Mr. Alden continued, "the monsters are only part of the test. You'll need to be prepared for everything. You may not be fighting all the time, but you will have to work together and think on your feet. Do not underestimate the dangers of this exam. And trust your device—it's the one thing that will make sure you return in one piece."
Zeke sat quietly, listening. He'd never taken an exam like this before, but the thought of fighting monsters in an unfamiliar place left a pit in his stomach. Still, he had to push forward. This was something he couldn't avoid.
As Mr. Alden finished his briefing and the class started to settle, Eliza leaned over to Zeke. "I'll be with you," she whispered, her voice a mix of reassurance and determination. "We'll get through this together."
Zeke nodded, not trusting himself to say anything. The looming test made his chest tighten, but Eliza's words were the only thing grounding him. Maybe—just maybe—they would make it through.
The bell rang again, signaling the end of the class, and the students began to file out of the room. Zeke remained seated for a moment, his thoughts swirling. He couldn't afford to think about how the island exam might trigger his power. The temptation to use it was always there, lurking in the back of his mind, and the island would be no different.
But he couldn't let that happen. He had to fight through this on his own.